HomeMy WebLinkAboutAward of Contract for Automated Figerprint ProcessingStaff Report
DATE:
March 21J2001
TO:
John B. Bahorski, City Manager
FROM:
Chief Michael F. Sellers
SUBJECT: AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR AUTOMATED
FINGERPRINT PROCESSING
SUMMARY OF REOUEST:
This report seeks your approval to contract with U.S. Fingerprinting, Inc., 350 West
Colorado Blvd., Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91105, for applicant fingerprinting services.
BACKGROUND:
Fingerprinting, like all aspects of law enforcement, has been improved with the assistance
of automation over the past several years. One of the most significant improvements has
been the replacement of rolled inked fingerprints with computer imaging. The
application of this technology is commonly known as Live -Scan.
This technology is now the primary method used by the California Department of Justice
and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to process fingerprint cards. This technology
allows for the collection of an improved fingerprint product. Live -Scan fingerprints, by
the manner in which they are collected and evaluated simultaneously, have virtually no
rejection rate upon submission. Inked prints currently have a rejection rate of almost
75%-85%. Additionally, the time spent to get results on an inked print can be as long as
9 months, whereas Live -Scan prints typically yield results within twenty-four to seventy-
two hours.
The Seal Beach Police Department currently does not have access to Live -Scan
fingerprinting for applicants. These applicants include police and city employees, w well
m the public we serve. Subsequently, the City and the public are required to deal with the
problems and delays associated with traditional rolled fingerprint cards.
The City would like to implement a more efficient service for the public and city
personnel. To accomplish this, the Police Department would like to contract with U.S.
Fingerprinting Inc., to perform Live -Scan applicant fingerprinting at the Seal Beach
Police Department.
Under the terms of this contract, U.S. Fingerprinting would come to the Seal Beach
Police Department and fingerprint scheduled applicants in a mobile fingerprinting station
that belongs to U.S. Fingerprinting. U.S. Fingerprinting would then submit these Live -
Scan fingerprints electronically to the appropriate agency. U.S. Fingerprinting would
also handle the collection and payment of the required fees for the processing agency
(Department of Justice and/or FBI 432456).
U.S. Fingerprinting charges the applicant $20.00 for these services. Seal Beach Police
Department currently charges $10.00 for the same service, however, 75% of the time the
applicant has to return to be re -fingerprinted and when the prints are deemed not suitable
for evaluation, the wait for results can be 3-9 months.
For these reasons, the Police Department would like to stop providing the old style
applicant fingerprint service and instead utilize the services of U.S. Fingerprinting.
Under the terms of this agreement, the City will receive $1.00 for every member of the
public that is processed as an applicant. The City would be charged $14.00 for every city
employee or applicant that is processed through the Live -Scan system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Utilization of this service would represent an additional cost to the City for the processing
of applicants who are permanent, seasonal or volunteer employees. This cost is $14.00
per applicant and would be paid with currently budgeted funds.
Utilization of this service would represent additional revenue for the city of one -dollar for
every applicant processed who is not a city employee candidate.
Utilization of this service would represent an increased cost of $10.00 for applicant
fingerprinting for members of the public. U.S. Fingerprinting, not the City of Seal
Beach, would charge this fee.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that approval be given to this request and thereby authorize the Police
Department to have U.S. Fingerprinting, provide Live -Scan services to the City of Seal
Beach as outlined in the attached contract, which has previously been forwarded to the
City Attorney's Office.
Michael F. Sellers
Chief of Police